World food prices tick upward

ROME -- A U.N. agency says international food prices ticked upward in September after two months of stability.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture index rose 1.4 percent from its level in August but the agency also reported some positive signs.

International wheat prices fell toward the second half of the month following Russia's announcement that it would not impose restrictions on exports. Record harvests are also expected in some low-income countries.

Also on Thursday the U.S. Embassy to the U.N. agencies in Rome praised governments around the world for avoiding export bans that it said exacerbated volatility in 2007-2008, when food price rises led to violence in some countries.